Hydraulic machine



Dec. 17, 1929.

E. H. BROWN HYDRAULIC MACHINE 'Filed April 8. 1922 Patented Dec. 17,1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWIN I-I. BROWN,

OF WAUWA'IOSA, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR 'IO ALLIS-CHALMERS DELAWARE HYDRAULICMACHINE Application filed April, 1922. Serial No. 550,623.

This invention relates in general to improvements in the constructionand operation of hydraulic machines, and relates more speciiically toimprovements which are espe- 5 cially applicable to hydraulic turbineinstallations.

A general object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic machinewhich is simple in construction and efficient in operation.

Some of the more specific objects of the invention are as follows Toprovide an exceedingly compact setting for hydraulic machines, which isespecially applicable to hydraulic turbines of the type which areoperable under relatively low heads to produce high specific orcharacteristic speeds.

To provide a vertical hydraulic installation in which the weight of therotating parts is partially or entirely counter balanced by the upwardpressure induced by the liquid flowing through the machine.

To provide an efficient hydraulic turbine in which the cost ofinstallation is reduced to a minimum by eliminating structure whichnecessitates expensive subconstruction and excavation. I y

To provide means for eliminating danger of interruption in thecontinuityof the propelling stream in hydraulic turbines-of the axialflow type operable under relatively low heads,

To provide a relatively long, efficient and inexpensive draft device ortube for hydraulic turbines.

To provide other improvements in the construction,arrangement,and'operation of hydraulic units, which are generallyapplicable to hydraulic pumps and turbines.

`While the present invention is especially applicable to hydraulicturbines or machines of the axial flow type, the specifice structure ofthe axial flow rotor herein illustrated, forms no part of the presentinvention except in combination with other turbine structure which iscooperable with the rotor.

A clear conception of an embodiment of the invention and of theoperation of a machine constructed in accordance therewith, may be hadby referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of thisspecification, in which like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts in the several views.

Fig. l is a top view of the hydraulic end of a hydro-electricinstallation comprising three independent turbine driven generatorunits.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section through one of thehydro-electric units, the section being taken along the line II--II ofFig. l looking in the direction of the arrows.

`The hydraulic energy converting installation specifically illustratedin the drawing comprises in general a liquid supply flume or upper basin6, a tail-race or lower basin l5, a plurality of conduits connecting thebasins 6, 15, an axial liow high speed turbine rotor 2 located withineach of the connecting conduits, a vertical main shaft 3 secured to eachofthe rotors 2 and extending upwardly into a power house, and anelectric generator a direct-connected to the upper extremity of each ofthe vertical main shafts 3 and having a direct support 5 above theturbine rotors. "While all of the hydro-electric units receive liquidfrom a common source of supply and deliver liquid to a common tail-race,it will be understood that these units are independently operable andthat a plurality of units has been shown merely for the purpose-ofdisclosing the compactness of the setting afforded by the presentinvention. It will also be understood that the terms upper and lower asapplied to the basins 6, 15, refer only to the relative elevations ofthe liquid levels in these basins.

Each of the conduits connecting the upper flume or basin 6 with thetail-race or lower basin 15, comprises a vertical portion within whichis located the turbine rotor 2, and which communicatesv with the supplybasin 6 through a downwardly and outwardly directed annular conduitportion 9 formed by an outer or lower casing 7 and a central core. Anannular series of adjustable guide vanes 8, surrounds the inlet conduit9, these guide vanes serving to vary the degree of whirl of the fluidadmitted from the basin 6, and also serving to throttle the enteringfluid. The upper or discharge side of the turbine rotor 2 communicateswith a symmetrical annular outwardly flaring conduit 10 which in turncommunicates with a spiral chamber 12 located within an Lipper casingand the discharge of which communicates with an open flow deceleratingfiume 1.4i through a conduit portion 13. The conduit portions 10 and 12may be formed to either partially or to completely decelerate the fluidpassing` therethrough, or they may be formed asv constant velocitypassages for merely conducting the fluid to the open decelerating flume111' wherein either a complete or a partial deceleration of the flow maybe effected.

A bearing 18 located within the annular conduit 10 prevents vibration ofthe shaft 3 adjacent to the rotor 2. Struts or elements 11 which may beformed as guide vanes in order to avoid undesirable disturbances of 'theflow through the conduit 10, connect the lower and upper turbinecasing-s and are also connected through pads 16 with the lower ends ofsuspension members or struts 17 extending upwardly to the generator 1..This supporting structure is subject to considerable variation in form,without affecting the features of the present invention.

During normal operation of the units, the guide vanes 8 are adjusted toproduce the desired direction and quantity of flow of water through therotor 2, in numerous ways which are well known in the art. The water isdelivered from the guide vanes 8 with a whirl in the same direction asthe direction of rotation of the rotor 2 and has its direction of flowchanged from inward to axial at the inlet side of the rotor 2 by theconoidal core in the conduit 9. The water passes through the rotor 2 asan axially advancing whirling stream and is delivered with considerableresidual whirl energy, into the annular conduit 10. In passing throughthe conduit 10 the centrifugal force induced by the mass of whirlingwater aids in urging the fluid upwardly and outwardly through theconduit 1.0 from which it is delivered into the spiral chamber 12located above the level in the tailrace or basin 15. From the spiralchamber 12 the fluid flows by gravity through the inclined conduit 13and through the open flume 14; to the tail-race 15.

Depending upon the selected formation of the conduits 10, 12, 13,deceleration of the water may be effected at various places along thedischarge conduit, and to variousextents, the final deceleration of theflow being preferably effected in the open flume 141 prior to finaldischarge of the water into the tailrace 15. rlhe conduit 10 mayobviously be formed to either substantially completely decelerate theflow of the discharged water, or to only partially decelerate the flow,or it may be formed so that no deceleration whatever takes placetherein. The spiral conduit 12 may likewise be formed to produce eithercomplete, partial, or no deceleration of the flow. The open flume 14 maylikewise be formed to produce a complete, partial, or no deceleration ofthe flow, but this flume 14 is preferably formed to produce at leastsome deceleration. It will be obvious that a great many combinations ofdecelerating passages` are offered byvthisv construction and that anexceedingly long and efficient draft tube wherein necessity ofexcavation and subconstruction are entirely avoided, may be provided.

It will also be obvious that by permitting the liquid to enter the rotor2 from below, the weight of the rotating parts may be partially or evenentirely counter balanced by the upward pressure created by the flow ofoperating fluid. The invention is especially applicable to hydraulicturbines of the axial flow type which are operable under relatively lowheads to produce high specific or characteristic speeds, such turbinesdemanding relatively large quantities of operating fluid which areassured by placing the turbine inlet below the tail water level. Thelocation of the turbine inlet below the rotor 2 also eliminates dangerof interruption in the continuity of the propelling stream, regardlessof variations in the head level. While the invention has beenillust-rated as applied to hydraulic turbine installations alone, itwill be obvious that at least some of the features are more generallyapplicable to other hydraulic machines such as pumps.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention tothe exact details of construction and of operation herein.

shown and described, for various modifi-cai tions within the scope ofthe claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a hydraulic machine, a casing forining a vertical conduit throughwhich liquid flows upwardly, a rotor located within said conduit, anenergy absorber driven by said rotor and supported above said casing,structural members directly connecting the support of said absorber withsaid casing, and guide vanes disposed below said casing for controllingthe flow of liquid through said rotor.

2. In a hydraulic machine, means forming a vertical conduit throughwhich liquid flows upwardly, a casing forming a spiral collectingchamber communicating with the upper end of said vertical conduit, arotor located p tion of said casing, and an annularv series of lli)guide vanes disposed beneath said casing for controlling the flow ofliquid through said conduit.

3. In a hydraulic machine, a lower casing forming a vertical conduitthrough which liquid flows upwardly, an upper casing forming a spiralcollecting chamber communicating with the upper end of said lowercasing, a rotor located within said vertical conduit, an energy absorberdriven by said rotor and having a direct support above said uppercasing, structural suspension members directly connecting said supportwith the upper portion of said upper casing, and an annular series ofguide vanes disposed beneath said lower lcasing for controlling the flowof liquid through said conduit.

4. In a hydraulic machine, a lower casing forming a vertical conduitthrough which liquid flows upwardly, an upper casing Jforming a spiralcollecting chamber communieating with the upper end of said lower casingand having upper pads, a series of vane elements connecting said lowercasing with said pads, a rotor located within said vertical conduit, anenergy absorber driven by said rotor and having a direct support abovesaid lowery casing, structural suspension members directly connectingsaid support with said pads, and an annular series of guide vanesmovably disposed beneath said lower casing `for controlling the flow ofliquid through said conduit.

In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor is aiiiXed hereto.

EDWIN H. BROWN.

